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Letters to
the Editor

I enjoyed Lori Heine's article "Ready Aim
Fire" about the accessability of heaven for all. It reminded me of
a very good point Dr. Bob Lowery made during a sermon. "Would God forgive
Osama Bin Ladin? You'd better hope so." The implication in the answer
is enormous - I had the same reaction to Lori's article.

He also said that heaven will be filled with people you didn't like on earth - another great thought. Would it be possible to be in heaven and be able to say, "You know, I never really liked you..." Ha-ha!

Anyway, I wanted to share my thoughts. Thanks for your time!

Mike Curry

Editor:

Put a "Transgender" button on your home page. You have the token "LGBT" heading at the top of the page, but that's all. It just looks like another LGB site. The only way TG's will find articles about transgenders on your site is to "Search Whosoever.org" for the word, "transgender," which many may not do.

Many transgender people are prejudiced against gays, and many gay people are prejudiced against transgenders. Even full-time transsexual people are often prejudiced against part-time crossdressers, and vice versa. If you really want to reach the TG community, I suggest you address these issues.

Also, many gay-friendly churches are not TG friendly, although this is rarely addressed in listings of accepting churches. Even some MCC churches, which are all gay-friendly, are not TG friendly, except in their official policy.

Renee Downey

Editor Candace Chellew-Hodge responds:

Renee, thank you so much for your letter. You're right, we don't have enough transgender representation here at Whosoever
and that's something that I regret. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to find enough transgender volunteers to contribute
articles. We've had a few in the past, but they drift away from us.

If there are any transgender people of faith who wish to contribute their
time and talent to Whosoever, we would love to have you. Please contact
me using our suggestion box form
if you're interested in using your talents to reach TG Christians in need
of support

Blessings, Candace

Editor:

I am writing to encourage you in the work that you are doing. I first
heard about you on the Rainbow
Radio show through iTunes. I am 19 year old Gay Christian
living in Auckland, New Zealand. I came out to my friends, family and
church last year. I thought you might be surprised to see how far your
ministry is reaching. I am an avid reader of Whosoever, a great resource,
and I continue to listen to Rainbow Radio. (On my website I have placed
a link to Whosoever: www.me-myself-n-i.deviantart.com)

I don't need to tell you how difficult it is to Come Out to yourself
and eventually others when you are brought up in a
Baptist/Fundamentalist church. Despite the opposition to my 'chosen
lifestyle' I have remained in the church that I was brought up in.
Being the only out gay in a place with such hostility towards the LGBT
community is very challenging at times. But blogs and online magazines
such as yours are a continued inspiration. I know that I likely will
not change my church. But when friends begin to ask questions,
challenged about the issue, and when they feel compelled to reach out
to a Gay or Lesbian friend they had lost contact with, I know that it
is worth it. The fight is won one heart at a time.

It is people like you that help youth like me to stay alive. If no one
had been out in my life (or on the internet) I wouldn't have survived
the Closet. The work you are doing does nothing short of saving lives.
With the deepest sincerity: Thank You.

God Bless,

Paul

Editor:

Thanks so much for your labor of love in Whosoever.

I'm a 29 year old gay man. In the last few months I have, for the first
time, been able to process the rejection of my family and childhood
community of faith. I've been doing this with the help of a supportive
therapist. What I have learned is that God made our bodies to store
knowledge of ourselves that our mind tries to repress because it is so
painful. I used to think that my anxiety was the problem. Little did I
know that, by listening to what it was telling me, I touched my pain deeply,
was able to grieve, come to acceptance and remove myself from continual
spiritual abuse by my fundamentalist family.

I've often read articles by you and have felt that I could relate to you as
a human being. It helps me to remember that I am not alone.